Following reports that various customers were being charged an extra Shs 200 for each airtime card bought, Africell and MTN Uganda have come out to distance themselves from the charges.
In a statement released by Africell,yesterday they say “our esteemed customers, africell has not changed airtime prices. Kindly do not accept to pay anything extra for our airtime. Remember, you can also get africell airtime from our dealer shops across the country, electronic payment options like PayWay, Pebuu and africell money. #DontBeCheated.”
The charges were reported to be in Wakiso and some suburbs of Kampala. MTN Uganda also issued a statement related to increase in prices for its airtime card. In their statement they write, “Dear MTN customer,MTN hasn’t increased its prices for airtime cards so please don’t accept to pay more than the value on the airtime card. You can also dial *165*2# to buy airtime using MTN Mobile Money or ask the Agent to load for you airtime using EasyLoad to get a 30% bonus.MTN Management.”
The increase in charges took customers by surprise because there was no prior announcement of the same. Usually telecom companies run advertisements weeks in advance of price changes.
